Integrated servo and read EMR sensor

Abstract

A magnetic storage system according to one embodiment includes magnetic media containing magnetic domain tracks; and at least one head for reading from the magnetic media, each head having: a first Extraordinary Magentoresistive (EMR) device for detecting magnetic fields of a first magnetic domain track; a second EMR device for detecting magnetic fields of a second magnetic domain track. The system further includes a slider for supporting the head; and a control unit coupled to the head for controlling operation of the head. A system according to another embodiment includes a first Extraordinary Magnetoresistive (EMR) device for detecting magnetic fields of a magnetic domain of interest. A system according to yet another embodiment includes an Extraordinary Magnetoresistive (EMR) device for deriving servoing information.

1. A system, comprising:
 a first Extraordinary Magnetoresistive (EMR) device for detecting magnetic fields of a magnetic domain of interest, the first EMR device comprising:
 a layer of electrically conductive material; 
 a layer of semi-conductor material formed adjacent to and contacting the layer of electrically conductive material, the layer of semi-conductor material having an edge surface opposite the electrically conductive material and having first and second ends separated by a length (L); 
 first and second electrically conductive current leads, in electrical communication with the semi-conductor material; and 
 first and second electrically conductive voltage leads in electrical communication with the semi-conductor material, the second current lead being located between the first and second voltage leads; and 
 
 a second EMR device for deriving servoing information for positioning the first EMR device over the magnetic domain of interest. 
 
     
     
       2. A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the EMR devices are electrically isolated from each other by an electrically nonconductive spacer or a void. 
     
     
       3. A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second EMR device is designed for generally collinear and tangential alignment with a single magnetic domain track for deriving servoing information from the magnetic domain track. 
     
     
       4. A system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising multiple first EMR devices for simultaneously detecting magnetic fields of magnetic domains of interest; and multiple second EMR devices for deriving servoing information for positioning the first EMR devices over the magnetic domains of interest. 
     
     
       5. A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein voltage leads on the second EMR device are laterally translated with respect to a center axis of the first EMR device. 
     
     
       6. A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein voltage leads on the second EMR device are spaced farther apart than the voltage leads of the first EMR device. 
     
     
       7. A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second EMR device derives servoing information from a magnetic domain track other than the magnetic domain being detected by the first EMR device. 
     
     
       8. A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein voltage leads of the second EMR device are displaced, with respect to the voltage leads of the first EMR device, by at least a width of one full magnetic domain track and/or one or more guard bands. 
     
     
       9. A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a voltage lead location of the second EMR device enables the second EMR device to derive servoing information from a N+x magnetic domain track, where N is the magnetic domain track being detected by the first EMR device, and where x is greater than 1. 
     
     
       10. A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a length (L) and width (W) of the second EMR device is different than a L or W of the first EMR device. 
     
     
       11. A system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least a third EMR device for detecting magnetic fields of at least a second magnetic domain of interest. 
     
     
       12. A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second voltage leads are each separated from the second current lead by a distance of about the size of the magnetic region or bit to be resolved or imaged. 
     
     
       13. A system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising magnetic media containing magnetic domain tracks of interest; at least one head for reading from and writing to the magnetic media, each head having the first and second EMR devices; a slider for supporting the head; and a control unit coupled to the head for controlling operation of the head. 
     
     
       14. A system, comprising:
 an Extraordinary Magnetoresistive (EMR) device for deriving servoing information, the EMR device comprising:
 a layer of electrically conductive material; 
 a layer of semi-conductor material formed adjacent to and contacting the layer of electrically conductive material, the layer of semi-conductor material having an edge surface opposite the electrically conductive material and having first and second ends separated by a length (L); 
 first and second electrically conductive current leads, in electrical communication with the semi-conductor material; and 
 first and second electrically conductive voltage leads in electrical communication with the semi-conductor material, the second current lead being located between the first and second voltage leads; and 
 
 a sensor for detecting magnetic fields of a magnetic domain of interest.